Massive Delays at Dartford Crossing Due to Police Incident

Drivers are experiencing major delays at the Dartford Crossing on the M25 due to a police incident this morning. The southbound section of the crossing, including the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, was closed for several hours, causing gridlock on the busy route managed by National Highways.

National Highways reported that the closure was a result of concerns for a man’s well-being on the Dartford River Crossing at 6am. This led to significant queues and traffic disruption, with motorists facing hours of standstill before a partial reopening of the crossing.

While the QEII Bridge has now reopened, delays persist on the M25 clockwise and anticlockwise directions. Travelers are advised to seek alternative routes to avoid the ongoing congestion near Dartford Crossing.

Elsewhere in London, the Piccadilly Line faced disruptions from Acton Town to King’s Cross St. Pancras due to a signal failure at Chiswick Park, adding to the challenges faced by commuters during the morning rush hour.

In addition, Thameslink services between Rainham and Gillingham were revised following a fault in the signaling system at Rainham station, affecting train schedules in the area. This situation is expected to continue until later in the morning.

Amidst the transport chaos, Gravesend RNLI was called to assist Essex Police and HM Coastguard at the Dartford Bridge crossing following the welfare concerns reported earlier. The response efforts have caused extensive delays on the M25, with traffic slow-moving near the bridge.

Commuters using the London Underground also encountered disruptions with a faulty train causing minor delays between White City and Leytonstone. Engineers were working to resolve the issue, but passengers were advised to expect some residual delays.

TfL further reported severe disruption on the Overground line serving New Cross due to a passenger falling ill on a train, leading to cancellations and delays of up to 15 minutes. The situation was expected to normalize by mid-morning.

Essex Police urged patience from motorists as they worked to bring the Dartford Crossing incident to a safe conclusion. The authorities reassured the public that efforts were underway to resolve the situation and minimize the impact on travelers’ journeys.